News

Inland Revenue Dept receives 4,831 returned cheques!

Published

6 months ago

November 30, 2022

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The Inland Revenue Department had received 4,831 return cheques worth of Rs.2.4 billion (2,488,003,615 rupees) as of June 30, out of which 3,817 cheques were more than 3 years old, it was revealed during a recent Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) hearing.

It has also been revealed that the value of those three-year-old cheques is Rs.1,429,356,750.

This was disclosed when the Inland Revenue Department was summoned before COPA on the day before yesterday (28) under the Chairmanship of MP Kabir Hashim to review the progress of implementing recommendations given by COPA held on March 24, 2021 and look into whether the Department is capable of achieving the tax revenue proposed in the 2023 Budget.

The committee questioned the lack of legal action in this regard and the officers present stated that their department does not have the authority to take legal action. The Chairman of COPA pointed out that this is a criminal offence and the necessary legal proceedings in this regard should be implemented soon.

The Chairman of the COPA recommended that a report be given to the Committee within a month regarding the legal action taken in this regard after consultation with the Attorney General’s Department.

The COPA revealed that the total arrears of taxes, penalties and interest due to the Inland Revenue Department as at June 30, 2022 is Rs. 773,957,856,618 (Rs.773 billion).

It was disclosed that an amount of Rs. 201,400,855,198 (Rs.201 billion) has been identified as income that can be collected without any legal concern and that Rs. 572,557,001,420 (Rs.572 billion) has been identified as income that has been temporarily suspended due to certain reasons.

It was also pointed out by the Auditor General that this amount has been identified as the total arrears of tax to be collected under both the RAMIS and Legacy systems. Furthermore, there was a long discussion about the failure to collect 201 billion rupees which is available as revenue from this tax arrears.

Accordingly, the present officials pointed out that recovery of this money on an installment basis has already started.

News

Laka’s family goes to CID (VIDEO)

Published

4 mins ago

May 31, 2023

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Lakmal Weerasuriya and Sahan Arosha, the creators of popular YouTube channel ‘Lakai Sikai’, who are currently in Australia had said that they have been receiving death threats through social media platforms.

Weerasuraya’s wife has complained to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in this regard.

They said that some elements are engaged in this campaign against them in an organized manner for attending the concert conducted by Natasha Edirisooriya.

News

CID complaint claims Manju’s funding sources aren’t clear

Published

11 hours ago

May 30, 2023

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A complaint filed with the Criminal Investigation Department claims that the overseas funding sources of Manju Nishshanka, are not clear.

The complaint, filed by Oshala Herath, Attorney-at-Law Namal Rajapaksa and Sepala Amarasinghe alleges that Manju Nishshanka, who is said to be the leader of the political movement – Global Sri Lankan Congress, has violated the Election Expenses Regulation Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

They have also revealed that Manju Nishshanka holds citizenship in the UK and the US in addition to that in Sri Lanka.

Noting that the Global Sri Lankan Congress is an unregistered political movement in the country, the complaint states that the movement has backed a political party called “Arunalu Janatha Party” in 05 LG bodies in Gampaha district and 01 LG body in the Southern Province.

Noting that Mr. Nishshanka has spent around Rs. 30 million for the election campaign of MP Mr. Nalaka Godaheva during the last General Election, the complaint also points out that he was later given a ministerial advisor position as well as a directorship falling under the State Ministry of Urban Development while Godahewa held the position of its state minister.

The complaint claims that he has been occupying the 6th floor of the Access Building in Colombo for more than a year now as his business and political headquarters, paying Rs. 05 or more as rent.

In addition, he also owns apartments at the ‘On 320 Residencies’ and Shangri-La apartments, the complaint further says.

Noting that Manju has a house in New York, USA for which he owes over USD 600,000, the complaint alleges that the sources from which he receives foreign funding for his expenses in Sri Lanka raises doubts.

The complainants urge authorities to look into this.

News

2022 A/L results to be released in August

Published

12 hours ago

May 30, 2023

editor

The Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara says that they are expecting to release the results of the 2022 G.C.E Advanced Level examination in August.

Joining a press briefing held today (May 30), Mr. Jayasundara stated that provisions required to release the relevant results without delays are already underway.